Status Differentiation
Maintaining Status Differentiation

What is “Status Differentiation?”
“Status” connotes a specific and usually acknowledged hierarchical standing. It is understood, when someone has status, there are other statuses present, usually some below and some above. “Differentiation” means distinct separation between things, so much so that, the difference between them is noticeable.

All organizations should have levels of status. When each and every level is clearly defined (particularly the responsibilities), each member eagerly accepts his or her delegated duty, and there is a team spirit of helping each other, that organization can succeed. On the other hand, when the statuses are not differentiated and no team spirit exists, that organization will not function near its potential.

To put it another way, all successful organizations achieve because there is good teaching, from each status down to the next. Good teaching can only happen when status differentiation is present. When the teacher knows he’s the teacher, and when the student knows he’s the student, a major step toward a solid learning foundation has been established.

Coach Wooden and Status Differentiation
The one major reason for Coach Wooden’s success as a coach is, he was an incredible teacher. You may be able to win one championship because you happen to get some great players, but you cannot win ten. To win that many, you must be able to quickly and properly transfer all necessary knowledge to your players, every year. In other words, you must be a great teacher.

“Necessary knowledge” means everything the players need, to be at top physical and mental form and able to successfully handle every possible challenge. I don’t know if you’ve ever coached, but there’s a lot to teach and very little time to teach it in. (I coached a 5th grade boys team and couldn’t teach nearly everything.) Yet, Coach Wooden, year after year, taught everything. How?

As mentioned above, organizations don’t become successful by accident. Those at the top teach those below them. Those below them, teach those below them and so on and so forth. Learning is maximized when the Indians know who the Chiefs are, and the Chiefs know how to teach. At UCLA, status differentiation was never weakened. Coach was the Chief and we Indians listened and learned. And we learned more in one practice than most teams did in a week.

How did Coach maintain status differentiation?
1. He obeyed the law.
2. He obeyed his boss.
3. He played within the rules.
4. His behavior was above reproach.
5. He dressed as a coach.
6. He was slow to laugh with us.
7. He would not allow any player to think he was more important than the rest.
8. He would not allow any player to think he had special privileges. 
9. He followed through with discipline.
10. He was not easily influenced by his players.
11. I think you get the point.

On the practice floor of Pauley Pavilion, there was no doubt who the Chief was. Next time you visit Pauley, you’ll see the championship banners hanging from the rafters. They are there because of The Great Chief Teacher. He was able to transfer knowledge, in part because he maintained status differentiation. If you look closely, you’ll see a few feathers up there. 

Metta World Peace: If the NBA Would Have Done the Right Thing
Swen Nater

Following are two articles. The first is much like many articles that were written about the violent elbow thrown by the Lakers’ Metta World Peace in last Sunday’s NBA game versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. It states, World Peace was fined but will return to play. The second article is fictitious, will never happen, and is idealistic. It is, in my opinion, THE article that would have been written, if the NBA would have done the right thing.

Metta World Peace Suspended 7 Games for Elbow
Allaboutthemoney Press Association

Sunday, April 25, 2012

The NBA suspended Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) 7 games for his latest violent act. World Peace was suspended Tuesday for hurling a direct vicious elbow at the head of Oklahoma City’s guard, James Harden, giving him a concussion, Monday. When interviewed after the game, the seemingly-calm World Peace explained he was celebrating his dunk and that the blow was purely accidental. NBA commissioner David Stern, after getting all the facts, including Metta’s history of similar violent actions, said,
"The concussion suffered by James Harden demonstrates the danger posed by violent acts of this kind, particularly when they are directed at the head area. We remain committed to taking necessary measures to protect the safety of NBA players, including the imposition of appropriate penalties for players with a history of on-court altercations."
World Peace will miss the last regular game of the season at Sacramento and the first six playoff games. He will lose $348,000 in salary if he serves the entire suspension this year. If the Lakers lose in the first round quickly, the remainder of the suspension will be served next year.

Now suppose, if the NBA would have done the right thing because it is concerned with player safety, public opinion of the league, and the youth of this country, this is the way that article would read.

Metta World Peace Fired; NBA Commissioner Says He’s Had Enough
Common Sense Press Association

Sunday, April 25, 2012

Sunday, Lakers forward Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) hurled a vicious elbow into the head of Oklahoma City’s guard, James Harden and was ejected.  World Peace told reporters the incident was accidental. However, when the commissioner and his staff viewed the film, he immediately made the decision to oust World Peace from the NBA.

Said the commissioner, “There is no place in this league for anyone who deliberately throws blows at another player’s head. There is no place for anyone who repeatedly has shown he not capable of self control and does, at any point, fly off the handle and begins physically damaging other human beings. Metta World Peace is not welcomed back to the NBA ever.

“Going forward, if we see this happen again, from anyone no matter if they have a record or not, and it is determined the act is premeditated and endangered the health of the victim, we will release that person from the league. I don’t care if the Players’ Union takes us to court. My primary concern is the welfare of our players. But I am also concerned with our young people. They need to know how the game should be played and I am a firm believer, the best players in the world have a responsibility to demonstrate exactly that.”

Metta World Peace is expected to begin training for his new career in Ultimate Fighting on Monday where he is expected to receive a few blows to the head himself. However this time, he will have the opportunity (unlike Harden) to see the elbow coming.

One and Done Recruiting War Operations Guide
Swen Nater

There’s no way around it; the “One and Done” is here to stay. High school superstars, not quite ready for the NBA, are playing their college freshman years and keeping their bags packed for the pros. These “athletic students,” as opposed to “student athletes,” are going to sign with the university program that will give them the best chance, after one year, of going pro. Right now, the University of Kentucky is that program. For the past four years, every point guard has become a “One and Done,” This year, almost immediately after UK won the championship, all five starters—Lamb, Jones, Teague, Davis, and Gilchrist—entered their names in the NBA draft.

Kentucky is already busy recruiting another five high school players to spend one year in “Player Purgatory,” on their way to becoming millionaires. If you’re the coach of another Division I school and you want to beat Kentucky for the title, you had better come up with something that will convince some of those players to sign with you instead of the Wildcats.

Like I said before, these players are going to college for one reason: To raise their NBA stock as high as it will go. After all the red carpet university visits, and these eighteen-year-olds have considered  everything with their mature high school brains, their decisions will be made on one condition and one condition only: Which training camp (school) will give them the best chance of becoming a lottery pick. So it’s either put up or be number 2. Here are some suggestions for successful One and Done recruiting. Make him feel like a VIP.

Top-of-the-Line Accommodations
Offer him a pre-paid one-year lease on a luxury dorm suite, complete with a closet big enough to house his $1,000 collection of sneakers and warm-ups he’s already “purchased” with the allowance money he’s saved up since he was two.

The Basics
But don’t stop there. For him to sign your “One and Done Letter of Intent,” you’ll need to add basics like Dove Soap, a monogrammed towel set, door-to-door laundry and dry-cleaning service, and a Luxury Spa Package. After all, you don’t want your Valued VIP to have sore muscles during his brief stay.

High-Quality Foods
In one year, your VIP will be a rich man, frequenting the finest restaurants in the country. It will mean a lot to him if you help him prepare for the high life by promising a personal Chef who will create a cuisine with such high end foods as Wagyu Kobe steaks and fresh organic vegetables from Whole Foods. When in high school, he will think sushi is a misspelled girl’s name. But trust me; when in the NBA, he’ll acquire a taste for it. Promise him gift certificates to the finest Japanese restaurants in town.

Electronics
And let’s not forget the essential electronics gear either. To ensure a victory in the One-On-One Throwdown, furnish the Celebrity Suite (I mean dorm room) with a big screen HDTV (3D of course), and provide an iPad 3, and Xbox, and Wii sports so he can keep that valuable body in shape between practices and games. 

VIP Locker Room Space
A nice touch—which will really sit well with the team—is to make his locker area twice as large as the ones for the players who pass him the ball and are there for an education. The media will need that room for cameras and reporters when they interview him after the game. 

Playing Time
And while you’re at it, you better promise him a starting spot. He’s going to ask for it anyway.

On last thing and a word of caution; whatever you do, don’t promise him if he signs with you, you’ll help him finish his degree. God forbid you convince him that the primary reason for going to college is to get an education.

How to Train Young People to be Successful at Work
Swen Nater

I work at Costco, in the corporate office. I’ve been here 17 years. I also played sports. I truly believe a sports coach can do much to help young people prepare to function successfully in a corporate office-type environment. By “successfully” I mean, be productive, be an asset, be likeable, help the company reach its goals, get promoted, and generally be happy.

I wrote down twelve things I thought were necessary to be successful here. Then, one by one, I determined if sports could prepare a person in that area. In each case, it could.  

1. Discipline to get the job done right and on time
2. Working hard
3. Loving what you do
4. Discovering how to improve and move up
5. Being an effective member of a team that is working on something together
6. Being at work and being on time
7. Being creative
8. Being subordinate
9. Helping improve or change things
10. Being responsible and dependable
11. Knowing how to be led
12. Knowing how to lead

After I wrote them down, it hit me; John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success covers many of these. So, I went back and entered the Pyramid traits (in parenthesis).

1. Discipline to get the job done right and on time (DEPENDABILITY)
2. Working hard (INDUSTRIOUSNESS)
3. Loving what you do (ENTHUSIASM)
4. Discovering how to improve and move up (AMBITION)
5. Being an effective member of a team that is working on something together (TEAM SPIRIT, COOPERATION, FRIENDSHIP)
6. Being at work and being on time (INTEGRITY)
7. Being creative (RESOURCEFULNESS)
8. Being subordinate (LOYALTY)
9. Helping improve or change things (LOYALTY, COOPERATION, ALERTNESS)
10. Being responsible and dependable (RELIABILITY)
11. Knowing how to be led (LOYALTY, FAITH)
12. Knowing how to lead (POISE, CONFIDENCE)

I was so excited. Yeah! Through youth sports, The Pyramid can prepare someone to be a great worker and a great asset to any company. Cool!

So go tell your child, “Sign up for a team. Here’s a Pyramid of Success. Take it with you and make sure you get all of these things out of it.”

That sounds silly, right? A child can’t use the Pyramid of Success to prepare for the workplace; that’s the coach’s job. And I hear, some coaches have. If you know of someone who was trained in youth sports through the Pyramid, please call me. We want him or her at Costco. Thanks.

Mrs. Tepfer
Swen Nater

Did your children take piano lessons? Mine too. My two daughters were taught by a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Tepfer. Once a week after school, for two years, they went to Mrs. Tepfer’s house for practice. Often, they came home and practiced and I listened. You know what?  They were good. Mrs. Tepfer was a good teacher. The recitals were nerve-wracking, not only for the girls, but for me too. But, they did very well, every time. 

I thank God for Mrs. Tepfer because she was a very good influence on my girls, not only through her teaching, but in another, very different way.

I believe we gave her daughters Christmas presents one year. Two days later, we received thank you notes. When I saw Mrs. Tepfer a day later, I told her about it because I was impressed at how soon the notes came. She said, “It’s because they know, they can’t use a gift until they have written the thank you note and mailed it.”

That seemed like a good idea and, although we didn’t enforce that rule at our home consistently, the girls became prompt and excellent Thank You Note writers, and they still are.

We have all received Thank You Notes or letters and we know, there are “thank you notes” and then there are “Thank You Notes.” Following are the four steps to writing a thank you that means something. Oh, yes. Almost forgot. Thank You Notes should always be handwritten.

Suppose you gave me a can of Noxzema Shave Cream for my birthday.

Give Thanks

Thank you for the beautiful and colorful can of Noxzema Shave Cream.
Include Consideration

That was very thoughtful. It takes me back to the barber shop on the corner of Sharp and Blade Streets.
Feature the Function

I just ran out of Edge, which I usually use, but I’ve actually been thinking about going “old school” and back to Noxzema. I’m looking forward to tomorrow morning and a warm, close shave. I’m setting the alarm for 5. Can’t wait.
Thank Again and Sign

Again, thank you so much for the wonderful and thoughtful gift. Swen

My girls remember some of what Mrs. Tepfer taught them about piano (In other words, they can actually play more than Chopsticks.) But they remember all about the thank you note writing passed down to them by Mrs. Tepfer. To this day, I always receive an excellently-written thank you note from them, and very shortly afterward. But neither one would dare give me shaving cream.

Thank you

A Grain of Salt
Swen Nater

I have often wondered how Coach Wooden was able to keep his feet on the ground when all around him, many were raising him up to be almost a god. The truckloads of honors and praise he received never went to his head. Most of it was offered him after he retired. There came a point where he simply could not accept another “Teacher of the Century, Father of the Year, Coach of the Decade, or Man of the Year” trophy or plaque.

They called him “The Wizard of Westwood.” He shunned the title. He said, “I’m not a wizard; I’m a teacher.” Credit, for the championships, was offered him but each time, he politely but sternly, gave credit to the players, managers, and even his athletic director. He also gave credit to his wife, Nellie.

I really don’t know how he did it but I do remember him telling me, “You’re never as good as they say you are and you’re never quite as bad either. Take what others say with a grain of salt and know, somewhere in the middle, is where you really are.”

I just remembered that the other day, so I put it into verse so I’d never forget it.

A Grain of Salt
Swen Nater

Don’t swallow sweet words from the flatterer’s tray,
Nor the bitter taste of the critic’s cup.
Remember to add just a grain of salt,
When they serve the praise or dish the fault.
For you’re never as good as they build you up,
And you’re never as bad as they say.

Precious Prisoners of Their Youth
Swen Nater

They’re like the unborn butterfly;
They toss and turn about.
They’re restless prisoners of their youth,
Pushing to get out.

They’re like the hooked and splashing, jerking,
Jumping, speckled trout.
They’re restless prisoners of their youth,
Pulling to get out.

They’re like the ant beneath the brick,
Scratching through the grout.
They’re restless prisoners of their youth,
Clawing to get out.

Impatient for the end of teens,
They scan the clock and scout.
They test they try, they creep they cry
They push they pry and pout.

They think they’re like a waterfall,
But they are still a spout.
They’re restless prisoners of their youth,
Yearning to get out.

But just behind the guarded faces,
Between their frequent frantic paces,
They’ll never tell you, but they burn,
With fiery minds that want to learn.

But who will love them with the truth,
And who can hear their silent shout,
And who can feel their thrashing bout,
And who will teach them, ‘fore their out,
These precious prisoners of their youth?  

I’m Seven Feet Tall
Swen Nater

I’m seven feet tall, and what is that you say?
You wish you were tall in the very same way?
You wish you could stand, above all the rest?
You think that would be, better than best? 

If you knew what it’s like to be way above low,
You would think once or twice before wishing it so.
For the life of a person as tall as a tree
Is not as elite as you think it might be.

You can fit in your bed and you sleep like a lamb. 
But my bed is not nearly the length that I am.
Come and see me in bed if you have any doubt,
And you’ll see it’s my head or my feet that stick out.

When you shop at the grocer, you finish so fast.
By the time I am done, an hour has passed. 
Folks know I am tall; I can see every sign.
So they ask, “Where’s the bread, or the cheese or the wine?”

In the morn you get out of your bed with a hop,
But if I stand too quickly, my eardrums, they pop,
And my nose starts to bleed. So to easy all the pain,
I sit right back down but my ears pop again. 

When you enter a party, you mingle and dine.
As the host brings hors de oeuvres and expensive French wine.
But when I go to parties, the host does beseech,
“Would you change that light bulb I just couldn’t reach?”  

“You look so distinguished,” you jealously say,
“With a high head of hair that is bluishly gray.”
But I tell you the truth; it is not as you said. 
My hair is not gray; that is snow on my head. 

You think birds are cool soaring way in the sky,
But to them, I’m a hindrance and not a nice guy. 
So they deem me a target and let their bombs fall.
So that snow on my head is not snow at all. 

The $29.99 Suit
Swen Nater

A middle-aged man saw an advertisement in the paper for $29.99 custom-made suits. He took the ad to the proprietor, was fitted, and left the store, walking down the sidewalk toward home in a brand-new suit.

Soon, he saw his friend, Ron, who was walking the other way and about to pass him. They exchanged greetings and then Ron said, “Did you get a new suit?” The man nodded and said, “Do you like it?” Ron said, “Yes, but did you notice the right sleeve is too long? The left one is fine.” The man looked down, saw that his friend was correct, and said, “I’m going back to that store.”

When he arrived and told the salesman about the problem, the salesman said, “That’s no problem. Just pull the sleeve up a little [he lifted the sleeve by pulling on it at the shoulder] and hold the sleeve in place with your chin.” He had the man turn his head to the right and press down on the shoulder with his chin. “There. That will do it.” The man looked in the mirror, saw that both sleeves were the same length, said, “Thanks,” and walked out of the store once again, but this time with his chin on his shoulder. It was rather difficult going in a straight line because his head was turned.

One minute later, he saw another friend, Bob, about to pass. Bob said, “Did you get a new suit?” The man said that he did and asked Bob if he liked it. Bob said that he did but then added, “But the left pant leg is too long. The left one is just right.” The man thanked him, did a 180, and returned to the store, still holding his right sleeve up with his chin.

After the man explained the problem with the left pant leg, the salesman said, “That’s no problem. You take your right hand and hold your left pant up like this.” The salesman had the man grab his left pant, with his right hand, about the pocket area. After looking in the mirror, the man saw that both pant legs were the same length and both sleeves were also. He left the store and, once again, walked down the sidewalk toward home. This time, he not only weaved all over the sidewalk, but he limped like a man with a cast on his left leg. 

Two elderly women approached. After passing, one, having seen the man walking with his chin on his right shoulder, right hand on his left pocket, weaving, and limping, said to the other, “Did you see that poor deformed man?”  The other woman quickly said, “Yes, but doesn’t the suit fit nicely?”

Moral of the Story:

Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.

If you don’t like that one, how about these?

You get what you pay for. Don’t be so cheap.

If the suit doesn’t fit, don’t wear it.

The True Meaning of Conditioning
Swen Nater

This is going to be a rather long posting. I’ll try to keep the quality high from beginning to end, though I may become a little tired. I’ve not done this long a posting before. [deep breath] Here goes. 

It was early on an April 1980 San Diego morning, the first morning after the last game of the San Diego Clippers season. I put on my Clippers socks, basketball shoes, practice shorts, and practice shirt and walked out the front door of my home into the cool, but soon-to-be warm, day. The eastern sun, slowly rising like a released golden balloon, almost blinded me. But it warmed me slightly.

My usual off-season workout was weights, sprints, footwork, jumping, or shooting. I had never tried running. As I stared jogging I thought, ‘With the kind of shape I’m in, I should be able to run all day.’ The “eye-opener” was just around the corner. .

Planning on “getting it over with” in as little time as possible, I picked up the pace from a jog to a run. My heart rate increased and leveled off a bit. About 5 minutes into the run, my legs began to tighten a little and my breathing shifted from aerobic to anaerobic. In other words, I began seeking more air. It felt like the third overtime. I slowed down. That didn’t help much so I reduced my pace to the slowest jog I could muster, hoping to finish the two miles. Finally, after one mile, I quit and began my walk back home. With my head down, lungs burning, hands on my hips, and confused, I could not figure out why someone who could run four miles in a basketball game (combined with jumping and extreme wrestling) and not be tired, couldn’t run two miles straight without jumping and no one hanging on him. I was conditioned to play more than an entire NBA game but not conditioned to run two miles. 

In 1974, I was challenged, by a 60 year old PE teacher in San Antonio, Texas, to a game of racquetball. I had never played before but I figured, since I’m used to running on an 84’ X 55’ court, the much smaller area would not be a problem. Because of the teacher’s experience, he had me running from wall to wall while he stood in the middle of the court, sadistically, joyously, and without an ounce of compassion, spreading the ball around. Ten minutes into the match, I began tripping over my tongue and was convinced I had used all the oxygen in the place.

Conditioning is Activity-Specific
It can be said; a couch potato is in condition because he’s accustomed to sit five hours in front of a television set working the remote, eating potato chips, and drinking Bud Light. It can be said, “He’s in shape.” He’s not in great physical shape but he’s in shape to sit in one position for 5 hours without becoming physically, mentally or emotionally fatigued.

A New York traffic intersection cop is conditioned to move his arms and stand for hours without becoming physically, mentally, or emotionally fatigued. A court stenographer, scorekeeper at a basketball game, graveyard custodian in an office building, and garbage collector, are all in a condition I am not. And, they are not in the condition I am for what I do. Conditioning is activity-specific.

Therefore, training must also be activity-specific. And, the more the training is “like the activity” itself, the more properly trained people will be.

Conditioning in Youth Sports and Classrooms
This might sound like common sense but like many things that are obvious, it doesn’t always happen. Nowhere is this truer than in youth sports and the classroom. 

Youth Sports
The game/match is a series of skills, executed randomly, in various situations, at various stress levels, and for a length of time (i.e. two hours), with few breaks. For example in basketball, freethrows are shot throughout the game. Yet, many coaches dedicate one section of the practice session to it. That is not conditioning your players to be able to shoot freethrows well at the first and second half. Many coaches reserve one part of practice for full-court running in order to develop physical conditioning. All that does is condition the players to be able to run hard for that amount of time—not for an entire game.

The coach who truly conditions the team for game play has the players shoot freethrows throughout practice, makes each drill a conditioning drill, and has the proper amount of scrimmage time. Not only that, but the team is also mentally and emotionally conditioned throughout practice by providing various levels of stress, where concentration and self-control are tested and trained.

The Classroom
There is conditioning in the classroom. Students must be trained to be at full concentration, self-control, and production for the entire class time. Therefore, classroom energy and expectations must remain at a high level. In order to do that, the teacher must be extremely organized and have a good plan to keep things moving. Long breaks and irrelevant diversions can quench the spirit of learning, never to be regained again.

And, like it or not, students must be conditioned to be at full concentration from the beginning to the end of the exam. Quizzes and practice exams, with uncompromised time limits are effective training, much like scrimmages prepare the sports team for competition. 

I just checked word count. That’s 906 and I’m tired. If you find typos or other errors, it’s because I’m not conditioned to write this much. I’ll practice and give you even longer ones. Just kidding.